Rail-joint plate



o. CQFANSLER Dec. 29 19 25- RAIL JOINT PLATE Filed August 12, 1925Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER C. FANSLER, OF GASSAWAY, WEST VIRGINIA.

RAIL-JOINT PLATE.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OLIVER C. FANSLER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Gassaway, in the county ofBraxton and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Rail-Joint Plates, of which the following is a. full,clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to rail joints for railroad tracks and hasreference to a base plate which may be positioned across two ties so asto support the abutting ends of the rails as well as the angle barswhich unite them.

Another object of the invention resides in the construction of a baseplate which may be positioned so as to give a slight elevation to therail, when used on curves, without in any way mutilating the surface ofthe tie.

A further object of the invention consists in the provision of a baseplate having an overhanging flange adjacent one edge thereof which isadapted to engage the outer angle bar to assist in preventing spreadingor tilting of the rails as well as to maintain alignment of the abuttingrail ends.

Another object of the invention is to provide a base plate which isinterchangeable, that is to say, one which may be employed inconjunction with rails of varying sizes such as pound rails, 80 poundrails, etc.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rail joint.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the base plate per se, and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the has plate from a difi'erent angle.

Referring to the drawings more in detail the numeral 1 indicates therails which are united by the rail joint about to be described, and 2refers to the usual cross-ties.

The essential feature of the present invention resides in the provisionof the novel base plate which is indicated generally by the numeral 3.This plate is intended for use with rails of all standard sizes and tothis end is provided with the specially arranged spike holes 4 whichallow for the varying widths of the rail bases. Arranged adjacent theopposite edge of the base plate is an overhanging flange or abutment 5which is adapted to engage the outer angle bar 6 of the rail joint so asto prevent either tilting or spreading of the rails. This edge of thebase plate is also provided with spike holes 7 for securing the same tothe ties.

It is well understood by those skilled in the art that cross-ties rotmuch more quickly when partly cut away in the manner usually followedwhere curves are under construction or repair. Under these circumstancesthe ties are usually cut away somewhat to give a tilt to the rail in theproper direction; this permits the ties to hold water at these pointsand causesa rapid deterioration of the ties. To avoid this objectionI'have provided the base plate 1 with the two bevels or inclinedsurfaces 8 at eachend thereof for receiving the two' ties by which therail joint is supported. Obviously, this construction will give thenecessary inclination to the base plate without any mutilation whateverto the surface of the tie. It should be noted that these inclinedsurfaces do not extend entirely across the base plate but on thecontrary they terminate at a substantial distance from the thicker edgeof the plate, this plain portion of the plate thus acting as a bearingand preventing the plate from cutting into the upper surface of the tie.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings it will be apparent that I have devised a novel form of baseplate for rail joints which may be employed at curves withoutnecessitating the mutilation of the cross-ties, and one which may beemployed with varying sizes of rails.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described what I nowbelieve to be the best embodiment of the invention, but I do not wish tobe understood thereby as limiting myself or the scope of the invention,as many changes and modifications may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention; all such I aim to include in the scope of theappended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A support for rails including a base plate, said base plate adaptedto span the ties, the portion of the base plate resting on the tiesbeing beveled to give an inclined surface to said plate, and the portionof the base plate between the ties functioning as a spacer member.

2. A support for rails including a base plate having beveled undersurfaces adapted to rest on ties, and having a central portion ofuniform thickness between the ties.

3, A support for rails including a base plate, said base plate adaptedto span the ties, portions of said base plate being beveled which areadapted to rest on the ties, an overhanging flange on the top of saidplate adjacent one ed e thereof and said base plate having a p uralityof spike holes adjacent the other edge thereof, said spike holes beingarranged at different distances from the edge of said base plate.

4. A rail joint including a base plate, said base plate adapted to spanthe ties, the por- 15 tion of the base plate resting on the ties beingbeveled to give an inclined surface to said plate, the portion of thebase plate between the ties functioning as a spacer member, anoverhanging flange on the top of said base plate adjacent one edgethereof, an angle bar connecting the rails and having a portion thereofadapted to fit under said overhanging flange, said base plate having aplurality of spike holes adjacent the other edge thereof, said spikeholes being arranged at diflerent distances from the edge of said baseplate, whereby the rail joint is adapted to different sized rails.

OLIVER o. FANSLER.

